Bhoys ‘within touching distance’

Rangers 1 Celtic 2

The win has put the Bhoys within “touching distance” of the Bank of Scotland Premier League crown.

But O’Neill admitted he had yet to be reassured that the Welshman, who netted a superb solo clincher in his side’s Ibrox triumph, will not miss future games through injury.

Celtic moved five points clear of their rivals thanks to goals before half time from Stilian Petrov and Bellamy.

The home side had their moments, forcing Celtic goalkeeper David Marshall into a string of saves and hitting the woodwork through recalled defender Marvin Andrews, but had only substitute Steven Thompson’s late strike to show for their efforts.

Celtic had been superior on the day and O’Neill felt Bellamy, who has now netted nine times in the last 11 games, had personified that.

“His was a massive contribution, absolutely massive. When he played in his first Old Firm game he was disappointed with himself and I didn’t think there was any real need to be. He felt he could do better. Well, he has been, he was absolutely sensational and the goal was absolutely magnificent.”

Bellamy had sent a shot curling past goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus after accepting a pass from Alan Thompson and cutting inside past the challenging Sotirios Kyrgiakos in the 34th minute.

The Celtic board will be under more pressure than ever to try to sign Bellamy permanently in the summer and O’Neill was certainly hopeful that this would come to pass.

He said: “I think today of all days there wouldn’t be a Celtic supporter, either in the ground or who had watched the game on television, who wouldn’t want him to join the club. We would be absolutely delighted and I know that the board have said they will make every effort possible to try to do that.”

Bellamy had been taken off just three minutes into the second half however because of a hamstring problem.

That could see him sidelined for future games, starting with Hibernian next week, but O’Neill had yet to receive a definitive diagnosis.

He said: “I don’t know at the moment. He said that he felt something and that he was pretty concerned. He felt that if he had stayed on the field it would probably have gone. It might have been severe cramp and we will let the doctor have another look tomorrow.”

With only four games remaining for each side it would seem that Celtic can now only throw away the title. O’Neill was more than aware of that but insisted it was no foregone conclusion that the rest of the fixtures would be won.

He said: “To be in touching distance can sometimes turn out to be a long, long stretch. We are five points clear at the moment. It is obviously in our hands and something was going to give today one way or another.

“We can afford to make a mistake, that’s all. We have to win three games and we know from recent experiences against Aberdeen and Hearts that it won’t be easy.

“We still have to put the ball in the back of the net and if we take our eye of it we will get done, it’s as simple as that.”

The game also featured a flashpoint after Petrov’s 21st minute goal, a header from a Didier Agathe delivery, when the Bulgarian celebrated close to Rangers fans.

He appeared to have been struck by a drinks carton thrown from the stands but O’Neill conceded the situation had been of the player’s own making, with referee Stuart Dougal booking him.

Asked if Petrov should have picked somewhere else to party O’Neill admitted: “The natural reaction after scoring a goal is to celebrate close by but I think in retrospect you are probably right.”

The incident was the latest in a series of crowd-related flashpoints both at home and abroad, with Rangers captain Fernando Ricksen having been struck by a missile from the Celtic stands in the previous derby.

O’Neill admitted: “I think all over Europe you would have to have concerns. I wouldn’t pretend to claim I have an answer for it. It is worrying.”

An SFA spokesman said: “We will wait for the referee’s report before taking any further action.

RANGERS: Waterreus, Ross (Buffel 45), Andrews (Malcolm 83), Kyrgiakos, Ball, Namouchi, Ricksen, Ferguson, Vignal (Thompson 76), Novo, Prso.

CELTIC: Marshall, Agathe, Balde, Varga, McNamara, Petrov, Sutton, Lennon, Thompson, Bellamy (Beattie 48), Hartson, Beattie (Wallace 90).

Attendance: 49,593

Referee: S Dougal (Scotland).